MU220 - Jazz History

This course will serve as an overview of jazz history from its origins in New Orleans to the present. The major style periods include jazz precursors, early jazz, swing, Bebop, cool, hard bop, free jazz, jazz fusion, and contemporary trends. A strong emphasis on developing listening skills will enable you to cultivate a lifelong appreciation for America’s classical music: jazz. You will learn the aural characteristics of the various jazz styles and periods and be able to recognize and identify recordings of key jazz musicians throughout history.